A holiday is day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration[?] but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity.

Based on the English words "holy" and "day," holidays originally represented special days of the Christian church calendar. The word has evolved in general usage to mean any special day, or even non-special day on which school or offices are closed such as Sunday.

Consectuive holidays are days without any break of working day[?]. They tend to be considered a period of good chance to go short trips, for example. In late 1990s, the Japanese government, keen to lift its government, passed a law that increases the likehood of consecutive holiday by moving holydays fixed on certain day to relative position in a month such as the second Monday. The well-known consecutive holidays in Japan is golden-weeek, roughtly lasting a whole week.

In late 20-centry, Saturday has become increasingly considered holiday as well as Sunday.

Bizarre American Holidays (http://library.thinkquest.org/2886/INDEX.HTM) -- a comprehensive compilation of special recognition given both to months and individual days. Unfortunately, the origins of the commemorations aren't provided.